BRAT update II - engine and chassis ho!

[Faust]

The Battle of the BRAT rages on!

I’ve been hacking away at the original AMT BRAT for a while now, and am making good progress. Thankfully, the body seems to have the highest number of flaws, since I was able to get the chassis and engine done without major issue.

Of course, that doesn’t mean AMT still didn’t find ways to disappoint; that would be unthinkable! From poor location to just plain old forgetting to finish the job, the BRAT has some interesting quicks in its lower half.

You can check out the chassis and engine at the link below, and if you’ve got a reissue of this kit, let me know if they fixed the issue on the motor.

https://adamrehorn.wordpress.com/2019/07/16/brat-update-2-topless-on-bottom/

[Tom Geiger]

Hey Adam!  Fun progress and a wild little engine.  I'll have to see if my local HL has those on clearance.  That would be an interesting engine to put in little street rods.  I saw your description of the top end of the engine as devoid of detail, so I had to take a look at what should be there in 1:1 for myself.  With Google as my friend, I input  "Subaru Brat engine" and a mess of stuff popped up!

I don't have a copy of the AMT kit handy, but could this be why they didn't bother to add much detail to the engine?  The spare tire was there in most every photo I found!  

[Faust]

Yeah, that spare tire is a totally separate beef, too, Tom. 

They should have included the spare, as well as putting the curve in the firewall for it. 

Now, just to point out that the pic you have above is a later motor; maybe 81 forward? I'm not sure on the year, but the earliest ones had the round aircleaner. The 'bean" was later. I think it was sill of AMT not to have at least tried to replicate that.